by Akina Hansen | Apr 18, 2019 | Uncategorized
In the wake of the devastating fire that ravaged the 50-year-old historical cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris this month, nostalgic French citizens have showed their patriotism by catapulting The Hunchback of Notre Dame to Amazon’s best-seller list in France. The 1831...
by Akina Hansen | Apr 16, 2019 | Uncategorized
Heralded as a ‘masterpiece’ by Tim Winton and ‘the best novel ever written about trees’ by Ann Patchett, The Overstory by American novelist Richard Powers has won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. The story follows five strangers who unite to protect stands of virgin...
by Akina Hansen | Apr 15, 2019 | Uncategorized
These days you can pull up a blog post entitled ‘Easy Weekday Dinners’ or Google search ‘entrée ideas to impress my in-laws’ in mere seconds. So why are Australians still so committed to buying cookbooks? And it’s not just on occasion – cookbooks have always dominated...
by Akina Hansen | Apr 11, 2019 | Uncategorized
The shortlist for the 2019 Australia Book Industry Awards has been announced! The nominees are voted for by the ABIA Voting Academy, which is made up of over 250 representatives from across the bookselling and publishing industry as well as additional specialist...
by Akina Hansen | Apr 9, 2019 | Uncategorized
The $50,000 Stella prize has been awarded to Vicki Laveau-Harvie for her memoir The Erratics. This is the first time a memoir has won the Stella and the second time a debut author has been awarded the prize in its seven-year history. The Erratics tells...
by Akina Hansen | Mar 28, 2019 | Uncategorized
While it’s romantic to imagine that most writers are fuelled by their creative thirst to tap into the core of the human condition, talk to any author and you’ll realise that most of our favourite books are actually written with the help of a tantalising treat –...
by Akina Hansen | Mar 27, 2019 | Uncategorized
Beloved young adult and children’s author Jaclyn Moriarty is back with her first novel for adults since 2004’s I Have a Bed Made of Buttermilk Pancakes. It’s called Gravity is the Thing, and begins as a woman travels to an exclusive, mysterious wellness retreat....
by Akina Hansen | Mar 26, 2019 | Uncategorized
A fabulous list of Australian authors have been shortlisted for this year’s Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards. The shortlisted titles are as follows: Older readers Between Us by Clare Atkins Small Spaces by Sarah Epstein Lenny’s Book of...
by Akina Hansen | Mar 25, 2019 | Uncategorized
For the first time in 40 years, public library funding is being increased. The recently elected NSW Government will now provide $60 million in additional funding over the next four years for our public libraries. Since launching in 2018, the Renew Our Libraries...
by Akina Hansen | Mar 22, 2019 | Uncategorized
Canberra author Jack Heath is no stranger to the macabre, bizarre and slightly preposterous. He’s been writing daring thriller novels for young people ever since he was a teenager, and his books have featured mutant mosquitos, terrifying monster squids and man-eating...